Two manuscripts, one typed and one autograph, for Rab's Friend.

LANG, Andrew.

Published by London: [c.1882]

About this Item

The original manuscript of the author's moving tribute to Dr John Brown, bound with a typescript of the essay. Written around 1882, the year of Brown's death, it was not published until 1901, when it appeared in Adventures Among Books. Lang and Brown were close friends. Brown (1810-1882) worked as an Edinburgh doctor to a select group of clients and did not begin writing until the 1840s. He began contributing short articles to The Scotsman and other periodicals, with his best-known work, "Rab and His Friends" appearing in 1859. His works were collected in the three volume Horae subsecivae. The first volume (1858) focused on medical subjects, and the two following volumes (1861 and 1882) on more general topics. Through his medical practice, he built up a large circle of literary connections, including Charles Dickens, William Thackeray, and John Ruskin. The written manuscript shows Lang's writing process, with annotations and crossings out throughout, including the original title for the piece: "Dr John Brown". Kunitz & Haycraft p. 81 Quarto (319 x 198 mm). Together, 50 leaves, 23 typed in black ink on one side only, 27 written in black ink on one side only. Contemporary brown morocco by the Monastery Hill Bindery, spine and front cover lettered and blocked in gilt, gilt board edges and turn-ins, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. Book label of William A. Strutz. Spine lightly sunned and rubbed. A very bright copy.

Seller Inventory # 189166

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Two manuscripts, one typed and one autograph, for Rab's Friend.
• Publisher: London: [c.1882]
• Edition: 1st Edition